An innovative, effective and low-cost system which replicates in robots the pheromone-based communication of insect swarms is now being made available to robotics and artificial intelligence researchers after an important breakthrough at the University of Lincoln, UK. Swarm robotics is an emerging approach to the coordination of multi-robot systems, which takes inspiration from the natural world to examine the possibilities for improved interaction between robots and their surrounding environment. In recent years research in this field has been important for advancing the biological study of insects, ants and other species known for their swarm behaviour. It has also contributed to the development of highly accurate vehicle collision sensors, surveillance technology and even aided video game programming. Until now, researchers specialising in swarm robotic applications have been unable to replicate all…